40Duty of local authorities to make standard grants
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, a local authority shall give assistance in respect of the improvement of any dwelling by a person other than a local authority by such works as may be required for the dwelling to be provided with all of the standard amenities by way of making a grant (in this Part of this Act referred to as a " standard grant") in respect of the cost of executing the works, if an application in that behalf is made by that person to the authority and approved by them before the works are begun and the works are executed to the satisfaction of the authority.
(2)An application may be made under this section proposing the carrying out of works which comprise the provision of part only of the standard amenities notwithstanding that the dwelling is not already provided with all the remainder of the standard amenities if—
(a)it is not practicable at reasonable expense to provide the dwelling with all of the standard amenities, and
(b)after the execution of the works the dwelling will be provided with at least the amenities comprised in the reduced standard as defined in section 86(5) of the principal Act:
Provided that an application shall not be entertained by virtue of this subsection in respect of a dwelling which is or forms part of a house or building as regards which the local authority are satisfied that they have power to serve a notice under section 106 of the principal Act.
(3)An application under this section must specify the dwelling and the works proposed to be carried out and, where those works comprise the provision of part only of the standard amenities, must—
(a)if the application is made by virtue of subsection (1) of this section, contain a statement that the dwelling is already provided with the remainder;
(b)if the application is made by virtue of subsection (2) of this section, contain a statement that it is not practicable at reasonable expense to provide the dwelling with all of the standard amenities and give the facts on which the statement is based.
(4)Subject to subsection (5) of this section, an application under this section must also contain a statement either that the applicant is the occupier of the dwelling or that the occupier has consented in writing to the making of the application.
(5)An application under this section as respects works to be carried out in compliance with an improvement notice served, or an undertaking accepted, under Part IV of the principal Act shall be in such form as the local authority may direct, and subsection (4) of this section shall not apply in respect of such an application.
(6)An application under this section shall not be entertained if it relates to a dwelling provided after the end of the year 1944, unless the dwelling was provided by the conversion before the end of the year 1958 of a building erected before the end of the year 1944.